Sayulita is a vibrant beachside town on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, with a fun energy and surf culture. I visited a few years ago and fell in LOVE with its charm, incredible food & laid back vibes. This time we decided to spend a few weeks here to really soak up the atmosphere.
Sayulita can be reached via Puerto Vallarta international airport (around 1 hour drive) and is warm all year round, with the wettest months being August and September. We visited in November & were spoiled with sun drenched days.
WHAT’S THE VIBE
Since my last visit, Sayulita has grown from a sleepy surf town to a bustling hotspot among locals & travellers. Rightly so with its exceptional cafes, colourful streets, food vendors, artisanal shopping options & proximity to gorgeous beaches.
Select your accommodation wisely (either right in the action if you prefer, or an oasis out of the hustle) & you’ll love your experience here!
BEST PLACES TO STAY
I did a lot of research to find the perfect mix between jungle oasis & easy access to Sayulita town. These are our recommendations for the ultimate stay:
Casa Mimas – colourful hilltop abode with the perfect laid back Mexican aesthetic. A five minute uphill walk from town but one that gives you instant relaxation when you enter the home, with a cooling sea breeze and amazing views to the ocean. The outdoor/indoor living space with kitchen and hammock (my most used space) is the highlight here.
Casa Saturno – shares the same owner, aesthetic & Mexico feels as Casa Mimas, but with several bedrooms and an even more impressive living space. Perfect for a large group or family! I loved the bridge connecting its rooftop spaces, charming design and being right up among the jungle!
Mi Casita – nestled right behind the main street, this apartment stay has beautiful decor and was very comfortable to work and relax. A very convenient location to grab a bite or hit the beach & boasts a beautiful shared rooftop terrace & pool. A bottle of tequila was a nice touch and the hosts were very accomodating too!
Don Bonito – set one street back from the quiet end of Sayulita main beach, this boutique hotel is an oasis around 10 mins walk from the centre of Sayulita. We didn’t stay here, but visited many times as it has an incredible cafe attached to it. Will definitely stay next time.
BEST BEACHES
We like to escape the crowds, so when we weren’t surfing Sayulita’s perfect right hand wave, we were exploring the surrounding beaches. Sayulita beach can become quite busy, so here is a list of our fav local beaches to explore:
– Playa Sayulita – if you don’t want to venture too far, we found the main beach to be much emptier and the water cleaner if you walk North up the beach, past the river outlet.
– Playa Carricitos – this was our favourite beach by far. Maybe a 20 min walk from town but well worth the hilly jungle walk. We had this beach to ourselves a few mornings. And the water was beautiful, with palm trees, jungle and matte boulders hugging the sand.
– Playa los Muertos – much closer to town with a walk through the graveyard and the waves were much calmer compared to other beaches.
– Caves Beach and Playa Malpaso – a longer walk North along the main beach and then through a dense jungle track. Once again, rewards for the effort as you escape the crowds. There’s a cool little cave to walk through too.
– San Pancho – what I remember Sayulita being many years ago. Much more chilled vibes. For more on San Pancho, check out our blog here.
BEST PLACES TO EAT
There’s so many amazing places to eat in Sayulita. From vegan cafes to colourful street vendors & some of the best tacos we’ve ever eaten, we’ve got you covered:
– Miscelanea Cafe – open for breakfast and lunch, this is the place for clean eating and plenty of cold brews options.
– Anchor Cafe – our other favourite for morning meals, reasonably priced and great chia and smoothies.
– Organi-K Cafe – amazing açai bowl range here.
– Mary’s – one of the most popular dinner options for Mexican cuisine. We only ever had the guacamole and tacos because they were so good.
– El Itacate – our other ‘go-to’ Mexican restaurant. Save it for dinner (as lunch is very hot in the street) and try the carrot or the hibiscus vegetarian tacos.
– El Tiburon – if you want to get off the street, the upstairs area has a good vibe and live music while you eat.
– La Rustica – Italian food if you want a change-up of cuisines.
If you have a kitchen there’s an array of fresh markets to purchase groceries. Here’s where we shopped:
– Alas Blancas – probably the best all-round grocery store in town
– Terrenal Health Food – a walk from the town centre but with great healthy and organic food options
– Anna Rosa’s market – roadside fruit and vegetables
– Casa Gourmet – bakery for croissant or bread
Also mentions to Naty’s Cochina for elevated street tacos, Barracuda for seafood and Alas Blancas for a nice beachfront option with sand between your toes. We didn’t visit these but heard good things.
BEST PLACES TO DRINK
– Escondido Bar – amazing cocktails (including margarita varieties) with a 2-for-1 happy hour and very friendly staff.
– El Barrilito – straight across the road from Escondido Bar with good cheap margaritas and a more ‘locals’ vibe. You can bar hop to Escondido Bar thanks to their happy hours aligning!
– Atico Bar – have a drink at the bar on a swing, with loud tunes and good guacamole to go with your drinks.
There’s more options to eat and drink on the beach. Go and explore & let us know your favs!
EXTRAS
I’d recommend doing a Tequila or Mezcal tasting! It’s a great way to learn more about Mexico’s land and history, as well as what’s in your drinks. Otherwise book a massage after all of your exploring. Chesh organised both the tasting and massage at our villa for my birthday and it was SO nice 😊
There’s also tours to the Hidden Beach in the Marietas Islands, but due to limits on the numbers of visitors you can expect a healthy price tag for this tour.
Want to extend your stay and see more of the stunning Pacific Coast of Mexico? Check out our new blog with our Top 3 Places to visit on the Pacific Coast here.
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